Proud Neighbors of Collingswood Furniture Restoration Clinic, held Saturday at Collingswood Architectural Millwork, Inc., 715 Taylor Avefeatured owner Bob Engleke demonstrating what attendees can do at home to repair a chair in time for Thanksgiving guests.

Bob, who started his career working for a furniture restorer at $4 per chair rebuilt, showed us his technique. First, label all parts and joints to assure you know how to reassemble the chair. Second, take apart the chair using a rubber or plastic hammer to help loosen the doweled or mortised joints. Third, clean all the old glue using a chisel or knife (new glue will not adhere pieces with old glue still on the joints). Fourth, dry fit matching pieces to assure they will be tight. Have a plan for how pieces go back together (finding out near the end that you forgot an interior part means disassembling the chair again). Fifth, use a high-quality wood glue – not Gorilla glue, etc. Sixth, apply glue to all mating pieces for the stage of reassembly you are working – work slowly and carefully. Seventh, use clamps, straps, etc. to hold pieces together until the glue dries. Use a damp rag to remove excess glue while it is still wet. Enjoy your rebuilt, sturdy chair!

Proud Neighbors of Collingswood Restoration Clinic is made available through the generously of Bob Engleke, and volunteers of Proud Neighbors, a non-for-profit civic organization.

Proud Neighbors hope you will join us for the upcoming clinics in January, February, March & April 2018. Volunteer efforts, restoration clinics and workshops help to raise awareness about maintaining the historic character of our town.

Have you ever wondered about the history behind the architecture that gives our town such great character? Join Proud Neighbors of Collingswood’s second annual docent-led Architectural History Walking Tour of three residential areas on Sunday, October 15 (Rain date: Sunday October 22.) Learn more about how our great town has changed, yet saved distinctive architectural elements. (All homes are privately owned and not open to the public.)

Spend the afternoon discovering something new about our town and meeting your neighbors! Three exterior tour routes spotlight architectural historical elements in residential areas along Lakeview Drive, plus Park, Stokes and Collings Avenues. Some of the sites are in the Collingswood Residential Historic District and on State and National Registers of Historic Places. Enjoy one route or all three; just show your Proud Neighbors wristband.

If you enjoyed walking with our docents on last year’s tour, this year you can discover three new tour routes. Enjoy all three routes for one price of $10 per person for a wristband. Docents will provide an enlightened overview of architectural style and history of exterior sites along the walking tours.

Each tour segment is 45 minutes. After your starting tour is finished, proceed to another tour route on your map i.e. BLUE, GREEN, or RED to start another segment. Tours begins on the hour from noon to 3pm. Capacity is limited to 15 for each route. Please join another route if yours is too crowded.

Devils Creek Brewery (1 Powell Lane at Haddon Ave.) will be a final gathering spot to share your tour experience. (Participants are responsible for any purchases.) All tour registrants are welcome to visit Devil’s Creek Brewery until 6p.m. on Sunday, October 15 or the rain date of October 22.

Proud Neighbors of Collingswood is a public charity with IRS 501 (c)(3) status, so donations are tax deductible. Its mission is to promote awareness about historic preservation in the Collingswood community and work to maintain the historic character of Collingswood.

Buying Tickets

Your $10 donation for the Proud Neighbors ticket gives you the flexibility to hear all three docent-led walking tours.You must show your Receipt, Ticketleap Selfie Ticket*, or previously purchased wristband to the Proud Neighbors Walking Tour docent to receive your wristband and join the tour. Please wear your wristband during the entire tour. Space is limited to 15 per session.

*There is a convenience fee paid to TicketLeap for tickets purchased online.

Note: All sales final. No refunds in case of rain on the original date. In the event of inclement weather on Sunday, October 15, please check Facebook, https://proudneighborsofcollingswood.org/ , and your e-mail for updates on rescheduling. Rain Date October 22, 2017.

With 10 houses and one business vying for the Best of 4th of July, Most Historic, Most Patriotic, Best Newcomers, Best Innovative Use of Media and Best Business, Proud Neighbors of Collingswood annual Fourth of July House decorating Contest was a variety of themes and designs.

This year included some returning but many first timers, showed amazing creativity, sense of patriotism, history and a whole lot of red, white and blue. In addition to the plethora of American flags and bunting, there were statues, historic military uniforms, , and painted designs on grass, all displaying the participant’s feelings about the Fourth of July.

The winners of the Proud Neighbors of Collingswood House Decorating Contest were:

Most Patriotic, First Place – J.J. Loux, Lees Ave.

Most Patriotic, Second Place – Chromiczewski Family, Park Ave.

Most Historic – Carty Family, Linwood Ave.

Best Newcomer – Celia Family, Eldridge Ave.

Best Use of Innovative Media – Renee Coccia, East Knight Ave.

Best Business – The Retrospect, Haddon Ave.

Winners were judged on creativity, originality and appropriateness to architecture, best historic home or overall best look. Proud Neighbors of Collingswood thanks everyone who entered their homes and to the judges for their time.

The judges were Lois and Harvey Stick, Sonya Peterson, John Samas, Bernie and Mary Kairis, Ron and Kathy Warwick and Dave Savage. Thanks also to contest registrar Geralyn Rock.

This annual show of patriotism is encouraged by Proud Neighbors of Collingswood. A civic organization that aims to share ideas about restoration, strives to develop awareness of historic preservation and works with residents, businesses and government to maintain the historic character of the town.

Proud Neighbors of Collingswood welcomes the town to take part in our annual house decorating contest.

Tell your neighbors! Register NOW for a chance to win Collingswood Cash! Register in advance at July4@ProudNeighborsOfCollingswood.org . Judges will only visit homes that provide address, name, phone and email in advance.

Collingswood homes, businesses and town blocks will be judged on creativity, originality, appropriateness to architecture, best historic home and overall best look. Show off your banners, flags, stars or stripes to paint the town red, blue and white! The official judging will take place on the morning of 4th of July and the winner will be announced in style at the Collingswood fireworks displays that evening. Winners will be awarded Collingswood Cash and prizes are delivered property owners one week following contest.

There has been a festive display of patriotic colors over the years and we expect the same enthusiasm from participants this year too.